Go Wild for nature and watch your community grow

WWF Canada

As CEO of WWF-Canada I meet a lot of people that really care about nature. It doesn’t matter where they live or what they do for a living, our conversations frequently turn into an impromptu brainstorming session about how we can encourage more people to take action to help nature.
I love these conversations and the great ideas they generate.  They inspire me to look at nature from different perspectives and open my eyes to the many ways that people actually connect to nature. What does the marine scientist measuring fish populations, the corporate volunteer picking up litter from a shoreline and the youth leader challenging kids to be eco-heroes have in common? They share a love for nature and a desire to take action to help nature thrive. And you can too!

North Sydney Eco-Action Super Heroes: 2015 Spring Go Wild pilot program grant recipient. © Rebecca Walker
North Sydney Eco-Action Super Heroes: 2015 Spring Go Wild pilot program grant recipient. © Rebecca Walker

Today we are launching our Go Wild Community Grants program, with the generous support of TELUS. We are inviting you to start your own conversation and submit your ideas for connecting people in your community to nature. We are awarding grants, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, to support creative ideas from Canadians. You can check the details here.
The best ideas will be reviewed by our judging panel, which includes Canadian nature lovers: Ziya Tong, host and producer of Daily Planet, Canada’s only daily science program; Les Stroud, creator and star of the original survival TV show, Survivorman, and Arthur L’aventurier, explorer and youth entertainer.
We know there are lots of great Go Wild ideas out there. In the spring of 2015, WWF-Canada ran a Go Wild pilot program and received an overwhelming response, with project ideas submitted from across the country.
Ingersoll Public Library Go Wild Spring 2015 Pilot program participants © Ingersoll Public Library
Ingersoll Public Library Go Wild Spring 2015 Pilot program participants © Ingersoll Public Library

Ready to Go Wild? Visit wwfcastg.wwf.ca/gowild today to apply and we’ll help you turn your ideas into action!
Here are some great Go Wild projects from spring 2015 grants to get your creative conservation juices flowing:
Edmonton and Area Land Trust’s Geocaching Project in Edmonton, AB, used an innovative and fun approach to re-engaging people with nature;
The Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society in Tofino, BC, used their Go Wild grant to activate citizen scientists to monitor the health of sea stars.
Keep checking our blog for more info on other exciting Go Wild projects that have taken place.